Kimberly C. Rhyan has been working in Education for 20 years and received awards and honors in New York and Ohio for her innovative programming. She earned her B.A. in Fine Art from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and M.A. in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University. She is a former foster youth and national advocate who supports foster youth to defy statistics by graduating from high school and post-secondary educational programs.

She previously served seven years as a board member of the Ohio Reach Coalition. The Ohio Reach Coalition improves post-secondary outcomes for foster care youth and alumni through leadership, empowerment, advocacy, research, and networking (L.E.A.R.N.). She is also a consultant for clients around the country and dedicates her passion and skills to supporting foster youth successes.

As an advocate and speaker, Kimberly Rhyan shares her inspirational story about being a former foster youth and overcoming life’s challenges. Her personal story of reconciliation and resiliency focuses on survival by moving from hurt to healing through empowerment and self-care.

Kimberly isn’t just a former foster youth and author, she is a soul-inspired educator, entrepreneur, designer, brand strategist, coach, and consultant focused on strengthening her global community to achieve their goals. Whether it is coaching a client, exhibiting her artwork, serving as the keynote speaker, and/or writing grants for not-for-profit organizations, Kimberly C. Rhyan uses her experiences, passion, knowledge, and skills to inspire her audiences.

News, Podcasts & More

Featured publications

Foster Focus Magazine, The Art of Healing: How One Former Foster Youth’s Ability to Forgive Helped Her Move On, V4 I11, April 2015

• Featuring Kimberly Rhyan, Winner of Foster Alumni and Educator Award, Successful Survivors Foundation

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Featured Podcasts

STIGMATIZED: New podcast about addiction & mental health | Offering Strength Through Stories

Trevor Steinhauser|Soul Inspired | Kimberly C. Rhyan | 5/4/2020

Speaking Engagements

U.S. Department of Education: Foster Alumni Panel, May 2016, Washington D.C.

Ohio Reach College Retreat, August 2016, Columbus State Community College

“Telling Our Stories – Family Reconciliation,” September 2016, Mount Vernon Nazarene University

The Changing Landscape for Foster Care Alumni as Successful College Students in the 21st Century: It’s About Collaboration! Ohio College Personnel Association (OCPA), January 2017, Columbus, Ohio

“Never Never Give Up: The Resiliency of Former Foster Youth,” ACPA17, PechaKucha, March 2017, Columbus, Ohio

“Work-Life Balance: Interwoven Life Tapestries of Motherhood, Management and Mentorship,” American College Personnel Association (ACPA) National Convention, Sponsored by the Coalition for Women’s Identities and the Commission for Administrative Leadership, March 2017, Columbus, Ohio

Higher Education Mentoring Initiative (HEMI), University of Cincinnati, Meet-Up, January 2018, Cincinnati, Ohio

2018 Fostering Pathways for Success Conference, Ohio Reach & Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, August 2018

Young Not Silent, Breaking Down Barriers, 6th Annual Citywide Youth Summit, University of Cincinnati, November 2018, Cincinnati, Ohio Greenleaf, Foster Parent Training, June 2019, Circleville, Ohio

5th Annual Alumni Powerhouse Networking Conference, Fostering Change Networking Foundation, University of Maryland- College Park, September 2019, Baltimore, Maryland

PCSAO Annual Conference, September 2019 Worthington, Ohio

California Fostering Pathways Conference, October 2019, Los Angeles, California

2021, 2022